Day 18- If I can do it, you can do it!

Good evening all! I have been eating clean now for almost 3 weeks. What a difference it has made in my life! I am very proud of myself for sticking with it. I have talked to several people who read my blog, and they tell me how strong I am. Well, I just have to say, if I can do it, you can do it! I think I am one of the most unmotivated people on the face of the earth. And for me to stick with this really says something. If you set your mind to something, you can do anything you want. The turning point for me was when I went to Salt Lake to the Basics 2 training for Zumba. I feel like I move pretty well, but during that class, I told myself that I could move so much BETTER if I was at my normal weight. And let me tell ya....trying to sit on the floor while hearing our ZES lecture was very uncomfortable. I really wanted to sit Indian-style on the floor just like everyone else. That day, it really hit me. Time to change.

The days of eating clean get easier, however I long for more variety. I go get my second body scan tomorrow, and if all looks well, I can start adding grains and oats into my diet. How I would LOVE to have a bowl of oatmeal in the mornings! I am almost done with my liver cleanse, and this lady also put me on supplements to rid yeast from my system. I am pretty excited to see how my numbers are tomorrow after eating well this long. I love my green smoothies everyday. I feel like they have changed my life! My body really must love all of the vitamins that the spinach provides. They will forever be a main staple in my diet.

Tonight I taught Zumba at the church. I have grown to love this class so much. I actually teach this class for free. When I became a certified Zumba instructor, our ZES told us we should not teach for free because of all the hard work we put into being a ZIN (instructor). I have to agree to a point. I do teach another class once a week that I get paid for, and I may be picking up more in the future. But this free class I do is so rewarding. It was my choice to do it, and I wanted to volunteer my time just one hour a week. Even though I am not an active member of this church, I live right next door, and I just love all of the women in this community. I believe in paying it forward. I love sharing my time and love for Zumba with these people. Every Thursday night, at the end of my Zumba class, just seeing how happy everyone is, means more to me than any type of payment. Their gratitude and happiness just makes my heart burst with joy! I plan to keep doing this as long as they will have me! :)

Well, this gal is off to bed. Talk to y'all tomorrow! And remember.....if I can do it, YOU can do it! Here is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries, 1 apple, handful of spinach
20 almonds

Mid-morning snack-
1 hard boiled egg

Lunch-
Bowl of vegetable soup

Mid-afternoon snack-
2 cutie oranges

Dinner-
3 oz. baked salmon
1/2 sweet potato

After dinner snack-
Small salad

Day 17- I am actually losing!

Well, I weighed myself this morning, and I am down 15 pounds since I started! I truly do believe that 80% of weight loss is from diet. My body seems happy and sound, and I just feel like a whole new person. My clothes are starting to feel baggy on me a little, and when I look in the mirror, my face even looks thinner. Those are little things that keep me going! I thought I would blog early because I am teaching Zumba tonight and I know when I get home, I will be ready for bed. Today was a very productive day. I run a small business from my home making soaps and lotions, and I had a lot of orders to fill today. So, all afternoon, I worked and worked. Other than that, nothing else exciting. No stress, no drama.....just a nice, but busy day. I like days like today because it keeps my mind going and I don't have time to think too much! LOL I started reading a book last night called "Water for Elephants." It is real good! I am only to about chapter 5, but I can't wait to get my hands on it again tonight. I know there will be a movie coming out soon about it, and that will definitely be a show for a girl's night out! I love to read, and it is my treat at the end of the day. I love to curl up on the couch and read until my eyes can hardly stay open any longer. For all of you that love to read, may I suggest "The Help." I think that is the BEST book I have ever read in my life! There is also a movie coming out for that on, too. I better get ready for my Zumba class! We will be rockin' the house tonight! Here is what I ate today: Breakfast- 2 scrambled egg whites 2 slices turkey bacon 1 c. green tea 32 oz water Mid-morning snack- 1 c. fresh cut pineapple Lunch- 1 bowl veggie and cabbage soup Mid-afternoon snack- 1/2 c. mixed nuts Dinner- 3 oz baked chicken breast 1 c. steamed zucchini After-dinner snack- (I will eat it after Zumba) 1 apple

Day 16- Senior Day

Hello friends! Today was a glorious day! I went out with my mom this morning for our Tuesday tea, and a good friend of mine joined us, too. We had quite a few good laughs this morning talking about silly stuff. Laughing is good for the heart and soul. It makes you smile and it is good medicine. I have heard that laughter and positive emotion helps blood vessels function better. And it just puts you in a good mood!

I went and did one of the things I love to do most today. I sang and played guitar for my cute little senior citizens at Legacy House. I perform all over for seniors, and it just fills my heart with joy. I have played in various bands over the years for many different audiences and none of them compare to my senior audience. Those folks LOVE and appreciate the music so much. I play a lot of music from their generation and they just eat it up! I love it when they tap their toes and sing along, or even close their eyes and nod their head while I am playing an old familiar song. Music and laughter all in one day......can't get any better than that!

I feel like my meal plan is getting a little mundane, so I thought I would whip up some cabbage and veggie soup. I put some together in a crock pot late this morning, and it turned out wonderful! And what a good way to get your veggies in! I would like to share the recipe with you. Here it is:

Veggie and Cabbage Soup 3 cups nonfat beef broth (beef is the best) or 3 cups nonfat vegetable broth (beef is the best) or 3 cups nonfat chicken broth (beef is the best) 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 16 oz can chopped tomatoes 2 cups chopped cabbage 1/2 yellow onion 1/2 cup chopped carrot 1/2 cup green beans ½ c. pinto beans 1/2 cup chopped zucchini 1/2 teaspoon basil 1/2 teaspoon oregano salt & pepper Directions: Prep Time: 7 mins Total Time: 32 mins 1 Spray pot with non stick cooking spray saute onions carrots and garlic for 5 minutes. 2 Add broth, Tomato paste, cabbage, green beans, basil, oregano and Salt & Pepper to taste. 3 Simmer for a about 5-10 minutes until all vegetables are tender then add the zuccini and simmer for another 5 or so minutes. 4 I have tried different variations. Leaving out green beans. Adding chopped green onions in addition to the yellow onion. 5 All very good. You can customize it a bit.

You know, on these blogs, I do separate paragraphs for easier reading, but when I post it, it all comes out in one big paragraph, so I apologize. Most of my blogs come out the way I want, but the last few have all been run together.

Hope you all had a good day, too! Looks like the sun is finally going to come out this week! Yay! We sure do need it. Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast-

Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple, and handful of spinach

1/2 c. mixed nuts

32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-

2 c. green tea

Lunch-

Tossed green salad with imitation crab, celery, tomatoes, boiled eggs, almonds and low-cal Italian dressing

Mid-afternoon snack-

2 cutie oranges

Dinner-

Bowl of Veggie & Cabbage Soup

After Dinner Snack

1 c. fresh cut pineapple

Day 15- Stress (Don't sweat the small stuff)

I let stress pretty much control my day. It all started this morning at 8:30 am after I dropped my son off at school. I received an email about a certain situation and I was on the phone all morning trying to straighten it out. I did not reach the party on the other end till later this afternoon. I am a natural worrier and having anxiety, on top of it all, does not help matters. I have heard that stress contributes to weight gain, so I googled it tonight. Here is what I found: "There are several ways in which stress can contribute to weight gain. One has to do with cortisol, a stress hormone. When we're under stress, the fight OR flight response is triggered in our bodies leading to the release of various hormones. Whether we're stressed because of constant, crazy demands at work or we're really in danger, our bodies respond like we're about to be harmed and need to fight for our lives (or run like heck). To answer this need, we experience a burst of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow, and other changes. If you remain in this state for a prolonged amount of time due to chronic stress, your health becomes at risk. Aside form a host of other dangers, chronic stress can also cause weight gain." Lovely. The silly part is, the thing that caused me stress today was not a real serious matter. But my nature is to worry, and therefore I STRESSED over it. Sheesh. Luckily, I did not turn to bad food. I actually turned to NO food. I skipped lunch just because my stomach was in knots. This is not good. By the time 6 pm came, I had calmed down enough to fix my son and I dinner. This is something I need to work on. It did me no good today to worry about something that was out of my control at the moment. The thing that finally distracted me from it all was "Dancing With The Stars." LOL Go figure! My HAPPY mode went on, and all was forgotten. I should have found a distraction earlier in the day. Note to self: Don't sweat the small stuff. I am off to fix me a nice hot cup of chamomile tea and curl up in the couch to read. Nothing like a good book! I am looking forward to a stress-free day tomorrow! Tuesday is my coffee/tea day with my mom. That always calms me down. Have a good (stress-free) night everyone! :) Here is what I ate today: Breakfast- 2 hard boiled eggs Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple, handful of spinach Mid-afternoon snack- 1/2 c. sliced jicama with low-cal Italian dressing Lunch- No lunch :( Mid-afternoon snack- 1/2 c. mixed nuts Dinner- 4 oz. grilled ground turkey, steamed broccoli After dinner snack-1 c. fresh cut pineapple, 1 c. chamomile tea

Day 14- Other End of the Spectrum

I was going through some old pictures today, and set them aside to put in a scrapbook. This was bittersweet because it is fun looking at old photos, but also makes me sad too, because I looked like a whole different girl. I have not been heavy all of my life. There was about a 15 year period where I managed my weight really well. I was definitley on the other end of the spectrum. It is quite traumatic when you go from one extreme to the other. Of course, it didn't just happen overnight. But still. Now that I am a woman who is plus sized and overweight, I have found that I am treated very differently. Doors that were once held open for me by men are now slammed in my face, or looks of adoration are replaced with looks of disgust. No lie! I am not trying to be mean with myself, but just telling you how it is. I cannot believe the discrimination against heavy people. It can be very depressing and hurtful, but you still go on with everyday life and try to do the best that you can.

This is a subject that really hurts my heart because I have always been super sensitive about my weight. I was a heavy child up until the age of 10, and then my mom took me to a weight doctor and I lost over 50 pounds. Before I lost those 50 pounds, the kids in school were so mean, and it has left scars for the rest of my life. They even nicknamed me "Big Bertha" in grade school. Through Jr. High and High School, I wasn't really overweight. I was about average. By the time I was 19, I had put on 40 pounds, and I was struggling to get it off. I joined a place called "The Diet Center" and lost 60 pounds. I discovered aerobics, which was very popular in the 80's. I started attending a class called "Danc-Ergetics" and became very fit. I managed my low weight up until I was 28 years old, and then started packing on the pounds. My Dr. put me on anti-depressants, and after that I just let myself go. I was no longer physically active and didn't care how much I ate.

I have not been thin since 1993. The picture you see posted here was taken in 1991. I think I weighed 125 pounds and was a size 5. Quite a difference. I still own that red dress and I just haven't had the heart to give it away. I keep thinking that someday I will be able to put it on again! I am still keeping the faith. Those days were glory days. I sang in a local band and owned many lovely dresses and outfits to perform in. And I still own every single one of them.

I do have to be honest about one thing. Sometimes the thought of being thin again scares me. When I was thin, I remember that a lot of girls/women were mean to me, and men lingered around like flies on poop! It can definitely be a double edged sword. Back then I got a lot of attention that I really didn't want. Sometimes to the point where it was kind of scary. BUT....I know I am older now, and if people want to dislike me just because I am at my personal best, that is their loss and their problem. My "true" friends love me for who I am on the inside, regardless of what I look like. It is vital that I get to a normal weight for my health. Looking good is just the icing on the cake!

So friends, I have been on both ends of the spectrum. I see how life is on each side. Being healthy and fit is definitely the better side to be on. I am slowly working my way back. :)

Here is what I had to eat today:

Breakfast-

2 scrambled egg whites

2 strips of turkey bacon

1 c. green tea

32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-

2 cutie oranges

16 oz water

Lunch-

Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple and handful of spinach

20 pecan halves

16 oz water

Mid afternoon snack-

10 baby carrots

16 oz water

Dinner-

3 oz. baked pork roast

3/4 c. green beans

After dinner snack-

1 c. fresh cut pineapple

Day 13- Baby Shower

I am sorry I did not post this last night! My husband, son and I went to a late movie and by the time we got back, I was so tired that I just went straight to bed. Yesterday was a great day. When I got up, I went and subbed Zumba for my friend at 9 am. What a great class! There were about 20 people there and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Subbing can always be a little nerve wracking because people get attached to their regular instructor. Of course, all the ladies know me from teaching my other class at the studio, plus I am a participant. But our main intructor is just fabulous and it is always a little intimidating to go in and fill her shoes. I came home and fixed a small breakfast, then headed off to a baby shower with my mom. This shower was for my sister-in-law who is having twin boys! Her close friends were throwing a shower for her, and even though my mom and I are having one for her in a couple of weeks, we wanted to go to this one and support her. As you know, baby showers always supply lots of yummies and good food. When we arrived, sure enough, there was a glorious table full of goodies. Fortunately, there were lots of fruits and veggies and I filled my plate with those and drank water. It's getting easier, but there was ice cream for dessert and with waffle cone bowls from Cold Stone. Oh boy. Those did look good! But, once again.....I survived! The rest of the day was pretty quiet and I just relaxed and took a nap. I love naps! But I am thinking I have sleep apnea because I always get so darn tired in the middle of the day. I know that I snore really bad at night, and I am sure that I have it. Losing weight will help sleep apnea, but I know that I snored even back when I was a thin girl. I have always suffered from sinus problems and I may have a lot of loose skin in the back of my throat. I think I am going to go get it checked out soon. I have heard if you get a good night's sleep with no sleep interruptions, you will feel good all day long. If any of you have any knowledge or feedback on this, please let me know. My son tells me that I sound like a freight train at night. He said he can hear me all the way into his room from where I am sleeping! Wow, thanks son. You know how to make a woman feel feminine and beautiful! LOL My husband took my son and I to The Coppermill for dinner. That is my favorite place to go eat! I had their fresh salad bar and a shrimp bowl along with lots of water. I will be back tonight to report about my day. I have to go fix breakfast and get some things done, then I am off to my friends' house to make plans for our Cache Humane Society Zumbathon! We are calling it "Paws for Zumba." Can't wait! Here is what I ate yesterday: Breakfast- Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. strawberries, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple and handful of spinach 1 hard boiled egg Mid-morning snack- Carrots, peapods, strawberries, pineapple, and grapes (from the baby shower) Lunch- Tossed salad with imitation crab, boiled eggs, carrots, tomatoes, and green bell pepper and low-cal Italian dressing Mid-afternoon snack- 1 apple Dinner- Dinner at Coppermill- Salad bar....romaine lettuce with imitation crab, peas, carrots, sunflower seeds and eggs 1 bowl of peel and eat shrimp No after-dinner snack

Day 12- Decaf Coffee

Good evening all! Today was good except for one little setback. I took my mom out to breakfast this morning, then we went to Kohl's to shop for baby clothes. My brother and his wife are having twin babies in June and I am soooooo excited! Anyway, we went to Village Inn and I knew that they would have good choices for me. I ordered 2 scrambled eggs, two turkey sausages, and a bowl of mixed fruit. I thought I would try decaf coffee and see how I reacted to it. Of course, it didn't have the caffeine, so I didn't have the jitters. After we ate, I felt ok for a while. Then when we were almost done shopping at Kohl's, I started to feel funny. I told my mom that she better get me home soon, because I was feeling sick. Oh great. Here I have done so good, and then I have to try decaf coffee. Was it worth it? NO. When I got home I ran to the bathroom and it was not good. I guess there is just something in the coffee bean, caf or decaf that just does not like me. :( I am going to have to stay away from all of it....period. So, I laid down for a while and slept for a few hours, then got up and felt totally fine. I prepared one of my green smoothies and it felt good on my tummy.

I am so excited to tell you all that my friend and I are getting ready to plan a Zumbathon for the Cache Humane Society! I got the date and place all verified today. It will be Wednesday, May 11th at the Logan Rec Center from 7-9 pm. Our last Zumbathon was for the American Heart Association and it turned out great! The Humane Society here is looking to build a public dog park, and we want to help them raise money for it. Being the animal lover that I am, I really am looking forward to this event. We are also hoping to get people to adopt some animals from there. I know this subject is not diet related, but it is a something that makes me very happy, and being happy helps me live a better life. Animals and Zumba make me very happy indeed!

Well, that is all for tonight. Hope you all had a Happy Friday and I will see you back here tomorrow! Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast-
2 scrambled eggs
2 turkey sausage links
1 bowl of mixed fruit
2 c. decaf coffee (never again)
16 ozwater

No mid-morning snack

Lunch-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries, 1 apple, handful of spinach
16 oz water

Mid-afternoon snack-
1/4 c. cashews
16 oz water

Dinner-
Taco Salad with romaine lettuce, ground turkey, black beans, tomatoes, cabbage, shredded carrots and low-cal Italian dressing
16 oz water

After dinner snack-
1 c. almond milk

Day 11- What I Want

Hey, I am back! I promised I would post some pictures of my friend and I on here from our lunch outing yesterday. This pretty lady here lost 83 pounds on Weight Watchers over a year ago, and she has kept it off! I am so proud of her. She said it took her 9 months to lose it, but she stuck to the program and was determined to get to her goal. I want to be just like her! She has been such an inspiration!

I did a lot of thinking today about what I want out of all of this. First and most important thing....GOOD HEALTH. I know that I am feeling fabulous already with eating clean. It is wonderful to wake up with no aches and pains. Here is a list of what I want:

* I want to be able to wear jeans again

* I want to bend over and tie my shoes without holding my breath

* I want to not avoid mirrors or windows while out in public

* I want to be able to sit Indian-style on the floor

* I want to run and play with my son while tossing a football

* I want to be able to crawl around on the floor with my future twin nephews

* I want to feel pretty again

* I want to ride a bike without being afraid of falling off

* I want to wear a bathing suit with confidence

* I want to go to the Logan Aquatic Center and actually get in the pool

* I want to run a 5k

* I want to wear pretty sun dresses like I used to

* I want to wear my wedding ring again that hasn't fit me in a long time

* I want to be more agile and energetic when I teach Zumba

* I want my knees to stop hurting

* I want to go on a cruise with my husband and feel sexy

* I want to fit into Zumbawear

* I want to be able to paint my toenails without struggling

* I want to be able to do jumping jacks

* I want to stop snoring at night (losing weight will definitely help this)

* I want to be a good example for my family and friends

I don't think these things are too much to ask for, and I know I can have them if I stay focused. It will take time, but that is ok. I will be learning along the way and developing good habits. By summertime, I want to go back to this "I Want" list and be able to scratch off at least half of them. I have my eye on the prize, and that prize is looking and feeling good.

Have a good night everyone. Peace and love to all of you. Here is my menu for today:

Breakfast-

Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple, 1 c. strawberries, handful of spinach

1 c. green tea

32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-

1 hard boiled egg

Lunch-

Tosses salad with imitation crab, shrimp, jicama, green bell pepper, carrots, tomatoes and low-cal Italian dressing

20 almonds

Mid-afternoon snack

1 c. fresh cut pineapple

Dinner-

3 oz Salmon

6 stalks of asparagus

After dinner snack-

5 baby carrots

Day 11- Recipes

Hello! I thought I would start my blog early today and give you a few great recipes! The first one is a healthy chicken stir-fry that is just delicious. The second is a bran muffin recipe that is also wonderful. I cannot have the bran muffins yet, but in a few weeks, I will be able to introduce grains back into my diet. Here is the stir-fry recipe:


1 lemon
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
10 ounces mushrooms, halved or quartered
1 cup diagonally sliced carrots, (1/4 inch thick)
2 cups snow peas, (6 ounces), stems and strings removed
1 bunch scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces, white and green parts divided
1 tablespoon chopped garlic

Preparation
Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest and set aside. Juice the lemon and whisk 3 tablespoons of the juice with broth, soy sauce and cornstarch in a small bowl.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate with tongs. Add mushrooms and carrots to the pan and cook until the carrots are just tender, about 5 minutes. Add snow peas, scallion whites, garlic and the reserved lemon zest. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Whisk the broth mixture and add to the pan; cook, stirring, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add scallion greens and the chicken and any accumulated juices; cook, stirring, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Here is the bran muffin recipe:

Becky's Bran Muffins

2 c. boiling water
5 tsp. baking soda
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar or brown sugar
4 eggs
1 qt. buttermilk
5 c. flour/or wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
4 c. All Bran Cereal
2 c. Bran Flakes
1 c. chopped walnuts
5 ripe bananas-mashed (optional)

Add soda to boiling water and set aside. Whip butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well. Add buttermilk, bananas, salt, flour....mix well. Add the soda water very slowly. Gently fold the cereals and walnuts into the mix.

Refrigerate muffin mix overnight. Spoon 1/8 cup into greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If making mini muffins, bake for only 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

This batch is very big, so you can freeze half of it if needed. Muffin mix will last up to one week in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Today was a great day! I took my mom to the beauty college to treat her to a spa day. I think she really loved it. My mom is one of those people that has everything, so what do you give a girl who has everything? Some pampering. Oh yeah. I was there with her getting these dark roots touched up and had a manicure. Very, very nice. It also was a nice treat to myself for being so good!

I will be back again tonight to write some more. I am off to teach Zumba to my peeps! Weepah! What a way to top off my night. See you all in a few.

Day 10- Olive Garden....yikes!

What a gorgeous day it was today! The sun was out, birds were chirping, and lots of folks were out walking. I love that! I woke up feeling vibrant, good and happy. I am feeling the (good) side effects of living healthy. Life seems so much clearer and postive. A dear friend of mine from Brigham City came over today and I took her to Olive Garden for her birthday. That is where she wanted to go because that is her very favorite place to eat. I was a little worried because I LOVE Olive Garden breadsticks! At first I was nervous that the smell of them would send me over the edge, but when we got in there, it wasn't so bad. The cravings really must be going away.....thank goodness! I ordered the soup, salad and breadsticks, and just took the breadsticks home to my son. I ate lots of salad and it was so delicious. I have found that my taste buds are changing after cleansing. Food tastes so much better!

This friend of mine that I was with today has lost 83 pounds on Weight Watchers. I remembered when she started, and she stuck to the plan so good. It took her 9 months to lose the weight, but she looks amazing, and she has kept the weight off after a year of losing it. I am so proud of her and she has been a true inspiration for me. I had the waitress take a couple pictures of us, and I meant to get them on my computer so I could post them on here. I will have to do it tomorrow, because I know I promised to post pictures weekly. We have been friends since 7th grade and she is one special lady. A true friend through and through!

I taught my Zumba class tonight at Dance Illusion and it was a cozy class of about 10people. I had a ton of energy and I am finding that my teaching and performance is so much better after eating a healthy diet.

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and I am treating her to a day at the beauty college to get pampered with a facial, scalp treatment, and manicure. I will be right there with her getting my hair touched up(NO...I am not naturally this blonde!)and a manicure. Maybe even a facial if I have time. I think that is a nice little reward to myself after being so darn good! I deserve it :)

Well, off to bed now. I am going to start my blog a little earlier tomorrow, because I would like to share some recipes with you! Goodnight everyone. Here is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast-
2 scrambled egg whites
2 slices of turkey bacon
1 c. green tea
32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1 apple, 1/2 c. strawberries, and handful of spinach
20 cashews
16 oz water

Lunch-
Olive Garden tossed salad and 1 c. Minnestrone soup
16 oz water

Mid-afternoon snack-
1/2 c. 3-bean salad
16 oz water

Dinner-
3 oz. chicken breast
1 c. steamed broccoli
16 oz water

No after dinner snack

Day 9- Inspiring Others

Good evening friends! I really look forward to this time of night when I can nestle down and share my day with you all. I never thought I would be blogging....ever. But this is like a journal for me, and it helps keep me on track to write about my day and write down everything that went into my mouth :) This also makes me accountable because I have just found out over the last few days that a lot of people are reading this. It does my heart good to know that I have been inspiring others. Believe me, I am no one extraordinary. I am just like everyone of you. I have had struggles with food and weight all of my life, and have failed with dieting many, many times. I am on the road again to eating right and losing weight, but I have made the choice to make it my lifestyle. I turned 45 in January, and I have found that I can't get away with things like I used to, like drinking caffeine or eating bad foods. It makes my body ache and just makes me feel flat out crappy. Since I have been eating clean, my body feels ten years younger and I don't have any pain! Now I need to back up a bit here. I don't think I have mentioned this yet, but before I started eating clean, I went to the chiropractor a few weeks ago, and I was in so much pain all over my body. He tested me for Fibromyalgia, and I do indeed have it. 12 out 18 pressure points that he tested turned out postive, and just about sent me through the roof when he touched those points. He advised me to come in twice a month to get adjusted, exerise, and CHANGE MY DIET. Wow....and was he right. There are just certain foods that my body does not like. Caffeine is definitely one of them. I will eventually be able to eat grains and bread again (at a minimum) once my body is cleaned. But truthfully, I am adjusting pretty well to the meal plan I am on. I cannot have any bread or dairy right now, but those are two foods that really do me no good. Since I have cut out dairy, my sinuses have settled down a lot and my stomach feels much better. And cutting out bread has really helped the weight loss. I LOVE bread! I could live on bread alone, but unfortunatley it doesn't help my weight. So, if clean eating is going to keep me pain free, give me a clear mind, and help me reach my weight loss goals, then it is so worth it!

I have received several emails from people that have told me that since they have been following my blog, it has helped them eat better and lose weight! This just makes me so, so happy! I love to inspire others and help in any way I can. I hope you all stick with me through this. I have a goal to reach and I know it will take a while to get there, but I am driven this time.

Well, my day was good today. I think all of my cravings have left my body. Now I eat to live, and not live to eat! I went out with my mom this morning for our weekly coffee/tea outing. We went to Caffe Ibis and I had herbal tea. I took my own cup of strawberries and some almonds. A good friend of mine joined us too, and we had a nice hour and a half of visiting. Came home and worked all afternoon on my Zumba choreography and learned some great new stuff! Zumba has brought so much happiness into my life. A friend of mine who is also a Zumba instructor called and asked if I would sub for her Zumba class at USU tonight. I love teaching up there! Those kids love anything you give them, and they have the best energy! The class was fun and full of young college kids who were eager to dance.

I want to encourage all of you reading this to get out and move! Even if it is just taking a walk around the block. Have a splendid night everyone. Hugs to y'all! Here is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast-
1 c. strawberries
20 almonds
1 c. green tea
32 oz water

Mid morning snack-
1 oz wheatgrass juice
2 scrambled egg whites

Lunch-
Tossed green salad with grilled chicken, green bell pepper, carrots, tomatoes, jicama and low-cal Italian dressing
2o pistachio nuts

Mid afternoon snack-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 apple, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries and handful of spinach

Dinner-
Leftover chicken stir fry

After dinner snack-
1 c. almond milk

Day 8- Helping Ourselves

Ok, moment of truth: I weighed myself this morning and I have lost 10 pounds! Oh happy day! I am sure being sick yesterday contributed to that big weight loss, but I'll take it! Now, I do realize that the first week of cleansing and dieting there can be a big weight loss, so I am prepared for a smaller loss next week. I am not craving coffee anymore. When I wake up in the mornings, I get a tall glass of water and drink it right away. Then about 30 minutes later I fix a cup of tea and have breakfast. Don't skip breakfast! It is the most important meal of the day and it will jump start your metabolism. Plus, it gives you brain power.

I want to talk a little bit tonight about "helping ourselves." What I mean by this is that each individual has the power to do something to improve, but no one else can do it for you. You have to do it yourself. You are the only one that can do it and you can be your own best friend or your worst enemy. I talked to a old dear friend on the phone yesterday, and she is so down on herself right now because of her weight. She cried and cried and told me how unhappy she is because she feels out of control, can't fit into any of her clothes, and is having health issues. I listened to her for probably 20 minutes without interrupting. When she was done (I will not use her real name, so I will call her "Mary") I said, "Mary, you are the only one that can help yourself. Just DO IT. Quit crying and mulling over it and take action. When you do nothing, you get nothing!" I told her that I could give her the tools and inspiration, but everything else was up to her. Believe me, I have been there, and just not long ago, too. You finally have to realize that you have to depend on no one but yourself and take the bull by the horns. Yes, there will be temptations and struggles. That is life. If you mess up one day, so what? Get back on track and keep going.

I also told "Mary" to try to love herself more. The poor lady has so much self-loathing going on right now that she is hurting herself and turning everything in her life upside down. The mind is a powerful thing, and I told her to use it in a postive way. Every day go find a quiet place and try just 10 minutes of meditation. Tell yourself you want to heal and be the person you want to be. Be GOOD to yourself. You deserve it! I hope she finds the strength and inner peace to turn things around.

Can I just say.....Kirstie Alley, you rock! I just watched Dancing With The Stars, and I am so proud of her! She totally rocked that Cha Cha! She is still a plus sized woman, but she was dynamite out there and an amazing dancer! I bet by the end of the season she will have slimmed down immensely because dancing does that for you! Dancing also brings a positive energy into your life that brings out the best. Dancing makes you happy! A few seasons ago, Kelly Osbourne was on there, and that was the jumpstart to her getting into fabulous shape. The girl looks amazing! So, I say to everyone, get up and move! Let's all HELP OURSELVES!

Have a good y'all! Her is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast-
1 c. strawberries
3 oz turkey breast
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
32 oz. water

Mid morning snack-
2 oz. wheatgrass juice
20 almonds
16 oz water

Lunch-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 sliced apple, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries and handful of spinach
1 hard boiled egg
16 oz water

Mid-afternoon snack-
10 baby carrots
16 oz water

Dinner-
Healthy chicken stir-fry
16 oz water

No after dinner snack

Day 7- Sushi Backfire

Well, I think the sushi was way too rich for my system because I was up all night with it coming out of both ends. Blech. Not a lot to write about tonight because I was mostly resting or on the john. Not a good thing at all. I really loved the sushi though, and when I get a little further down the line, I will try it again! This will be a short blog because I am worn out and headed off to bed. Here is what I did manage to eat today. Good night friends!

Breakfast-
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
16 oz. water

no snack

Lunch- Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk and 1/2 c. blueberries
16 oz water

Mid-afternoon snack-
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia

Dinner-
10 Baby Carrots
20 almonds
16 oz. water

Day 6- Sushi Day

Today was sushi day with the girls at my house. We have been planning this for quite some time now, and luckily, sushi is something I can eat! Several of my friends and my mom came over and we all fixed sushi rolls. I loved it! I made my sushi roll with imitation crab instead of raw mahi tuna. I just couldn't bring myself to eat raw fish. I heard it is actually very delicious, but I enjoyed the imitation crab just fine. The only thing that was kind of bad in the sushi was the sticky rice, but I only had a small amount. I also had a small bowl of egg drop soup and some strawberries. I sure hope the sodium doesn't get me from the soup. But it was all so very good and us ladies had a great time!

I went back to exercising today and hit 2 Zumba classes! Weepah! I went this morning to my usual class then went to one over at the gym that I am a member at. I know that is a lot, but my husband and son wanted to go workout, so I went along and caught the Zumba class at 8:30 pm. I am pretty worn out, and think that might have been too much, but it was so good to get back to the exercise program that I love!

The gym I go to is Rulon Gardner's Elite Training Center. If any of you have been watching "The Biggest Loser", Rulon and his partner Justin are on there and they both have been doing wonderful. Well, I saw them both tonight at the gym, and it is amazing how great they look! That gave me even more motivation to just keep going.

Time for this gal to hit the hay. Very, very tired, but very, very happy! :) Good night all! Here is my menu plan for today:

Breakfast-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 c. pineapple, 1/2 c. strawberries, and handful of spinach
1 hard boiled egg
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
32 oz. water

Mid-morning snack-
3 oz. turkey breast
20 cashews

Lunch-
Sushi roll with seaweed, sticky rice, imitation crab, red bell pepper, carrots, green onion and cucumber
3 oz. egg drop soup
1 c. strawberries

No dinner

Evening snack-
10 baby carrots

Day 5- Worst temptation yet!

Hey everyone! Another day done and I have to applaud myself. I have been so good, and it is hard to believe that I have stuck to it so well. But I want this more than anything and that is what is keeping me focused. Most of my day went smooth. Enjoyed a relaxing day at home and continued to read "The Hunger Games" series. How ironic....that is what I feel like calling my life right now....The Hunger Games! Bwaaahaahaa! When I got out of bed this morning, I put a brisket of corned beef in the crock pot to start cooking. Thought I would make up some corned beef and cabbage for St. Patty's Day! One day late because my husband came home from working all week in SLC. I figured I could have a little of this stew on my plan. I prepared it all very healthy. I added water to the brisket along with some seasonings, and when the meat was tender, I added shredded cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and onions. It turned out delicious! I had a small bowl and that was plenty. Here is the part that got me tonight.......

I had to go to the grocery store to get a few things, and I went before I had any dinner. (Tip: Do NOT go to the store on an empty stomach! This is no myth people. Heed to my advice here) I walk in Smith's Marketplace and lo and behold, there is a table set up with girls and women selling Girls Scout Cookies. Oh heaven help me. I get my cart and start to panick because Girl Scout Cookies are one of my favorite treats. Especially the Thin Mints. Yeah, you know the ones. I look over to where they are selling them and see the sweet little girls asking people, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?" How in the world am I going to say NO to those cute little faces? I am stressed out by now, but I continue to shop. I gather some things in produce then head down the aisle towards the meat department, but on the way I have to pass the bakery. Easter cookies and candy everywhere. My head is spinning. All I can think of is poor Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz saying over and over "Lions and Tigers and Bears...oh my!" Only I am saying, "Cookies and candies and pies....oh my!"

I get everything on my list and head to the checkout. The whole time I am standing in line, I am dreading having to pass that table, because I know I am going to buy some. So, yes, I did buy some. 3 boxes actually. 3 boxes of those delicious thin mints. I could not say no to those sweet faces. But....I made a decision to put the cookies in the freezer, and maybe one day down the road I can have a few. And who knows? By then I may not even want any. My son's birthday is in July, so I thought I could pull them out then for the occasion. Maybe even decorate a birthday cake for him and put them on it. I am very creative! I can think of something to do with them instead of putting them in my mouth!

So, I made it through that disaster. I stayed very loyal to my plan, and got through another day! Yippee! I normally would not have lasted this long so I am happier than you can imagine. I am going to come across these situations a lot, but I think I can handle them after today. Whew! Oh, and I almost forgot. I stopped at Jamba Juice today to try a shot of their Wheatgrass juice. I heard it is full of chloropyll and so good for you! I ordered a 2 oz shot and I loved it! It was sweet and surprisingly good! They actually cut the grass right there out of a tub and run it through a manual juicer. I felt alive and vibrant all day after having that. I think I will go get wheatgrass shots a few times a week. Here is a link that talks about the benefits of wheatgrass: www.soymilkquick.com/benefitofwheatgrassjuice.php I hope this link works. If for some reason it does not, you can google "Benefits of wheatgrass juice" and a whole bunch of links will come up.

Hope you all had a glorious day and have a great weekend. I am glad I can share my journey with everyone and even inspire some of you along the way. Here is my menu plan for today.....

Breakfast-
2 scrambled egg whites
1 grapefruit
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
32. oz water

Mid morning snack-
Shot of wheatgrass juice
3 oz. turkey breast
32 oz. water

Lunch-
Smoothie with almond milk, 1 apple, 1/2 c. blueberries and handful of spinach
20 almonds
16 oz. water

Mid afternoon snack-
Tossed salad with shrimp, imitation crab, celery, tomatoes, carrots, and low-cal Italian dressing
16 oz. water

Dinner-
1 small bowl of corned beef and cabbage stew with carrots, potatoes and onions

After dinner snack-
20 peanuts

Day 4- Getting Better!

Today was a good day! After I took my son to school, I went to Crumb Brothers with my mom for our weekly coffee outing. But I was a good girl. Instead of my usual cup of joe and a luscious pastry, I got a cup of green tea. Mom and I engaged in good conversation and sat by the window where it was warm with the sun coming through. It was pleasant.

Had another successful day with my meal plan and cleanse. I think I am finally getting over the hump and eliminating all of this junk from my body. I woke up bright and early at 7 am and didn't even fight it. Normally, I just hit the snooze a zillion times, then get up feeling groggy and cranky. When I went into the bathroom, I looked in the mirror (which is something I try avoid at all cost first thing in the morning) and I noticed something good. Eating clean has many benefits! My eyes looked brighter, my skin glowed, and my hair had a nice sheen to it. Everything you eat comes out in so many ways. My body feels pretty happy at this point, and I am loving the results.

Earlier this evening, I went to a church party with a friend. Another challenge! Lots of yummy food there. And worst of all....they had chocolate everywhere! Oh my lawzzeee. Chocolate makes me weak in the knees. I did not cave in. I got a plate and filled it with salad, baked chicken and 4 strawberries. Yay me! It feels good to be strong. Normally I would have INDULGED.....then came home and felt terrible. But the party was filled with fun activities and lots of nice, lovely ladies there to visit with. I left there feeling fulfilled and happy.

After I left the party, I went to the tail end of Tennille's Zumba class, and we showed everyone how to make green smoothie's. Although I have taken the week off from any type of exercise, Tennille asked me if I would come toward the end of class and help her. It was great! I got to share with the class what I have been doing since Monday and help make healthy smoothies with delicious, healthy ingredients. I just put almond milk, blueberries, apples and spinach in my smoothies, but you can put anything in there like oranges, bananas, raspberries, soy milk, coconut milk, etc.

Life is good. :)

Here is my menu plan for the day. Peace and love to you, my friends. I will check back in tomorrow!

Breakfast-
1/2 c. egg beaters
2 slices turkey bacon
32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-
2 c. green tea
1 c. sliced melon

Lunch-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1/2 c. frozen blueberries, 1 apple, and handful of spinach
1 boiled egg
10 almonds
16 oz water

Mid-afternoon snack-
1/2 c. sliced jicama
16 oz water

Dinner-
3 oz baked chicken
1 c. tossed salad with vinagrette dressing
4 strawberries
16 oz water

After dinner snack-
Handful of mixed nuts

Day 3- Challenges

Hi friends!

I made it to day 3! When I woke up this morning I was proud of myself for getting through these first few days. I didn't feel as drawn out as I did yesterday, so my body must be getting used to all of this. My morning and afternoon went great with no cravings or withdrawls. But tonight was Bunco night and the lady that hosted it here at my house had some pretty tempting food. While she was here preparing everything, I thought "Oh no....how am I going to do this?" By the time everyone arrived I was so hungry, and worried for myself. I have come this far and I do not want to blow it. I let everyone else in the group get their food first and was patient till it was my turn. I told myself that it would only make me feel terrible mentally and physically if I caved in and made poor choices. I feel like I did good. I loaded up my plate with salad and a half of turkey steak.

I had to pass on dessert. Then the hostess asked me "WHY." I was honest and told her exactly what I was doing. She then said that I should have told her about my diet and she could have modified everything. Seriously? I mean, this is real life. I need to adapt to situations....they don't need to adapt to me. She was ceratinly sweet for saying so, and I appreciate it, but I told her there was no need for that. This is where real life is setting in. For the past few days I have been hiding in the comfort of my home where I can stick to my plan safe and sound. But I knew it wouldn't last forever! Tonight was the beginning of many challenges I am going to face. I need to learn to adapt and make the right choices. "The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want for the moment." Have you ever heard this saying? It rings so true. I want more than anything to be at my healthy goal weight and look and feel good. So I did not live for the moment. I am stronger than I thought :)

My meal plan for today:

Breakfast-
3 oz. baked turkey breast
2 scrambled egg whites
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
32 oz. water

Mid-morning snack-
1 c. sliced strawberries
16 oz. water

Lunch-
Tuna on lettuce wedge
10 baby carrots
20 almonds
16 oz. water

Mid-afternoon snack-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, handful of spinach, one apple and 1/2 c. blueberries
16 oz. water

Dinner-
2 c. mixed green salad with tomatoes and low-cal Italian dressing
2 oz. turkey steak

No after dinner snack

Goodnight everyone! See you tomorrow....

Day 2 (The Mack Truck Arrived)

Hello!

I finally am settled in for the night to come here and report about my day. Woke up feeling really good! Took my vitamins and ate breakfast, started to do housework, then.....BOOM. My head started to hurt and I felt super dizzy. I could not stay away from the bathroom and I know it is due to the cleanse I am doing, along with eating differently. I literally felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck, just like I thought I would. I had high hopes yesterday, though. I was feeling so good that I was sure these first few days were going to be a breeze. Oh well. You gotta start somewhere, and when you are cleaning your body of waste and toxins, that Mack truck will be there everytime! I am so glad I decided to take the week off from exercise.

As the day progressed, I grew very tired and cranky. It was time for a mid-afternoon snack, and I sure needed it. I went for a cup of boiled shrimp. Shrimp is soooo good, full of protein and a great snack. But let me tell ya....a cup of coffee sounded wonderful. But no, no, no. Not giving in. These cravings are going to take a while to get out of my system. I stayed busy around the house to keep my mind off of food......glorious food. Ugh. Had my water in hand and some almonds for cravings.

Day 3 will be interesting. Tomorrow night is our monthly Bunco night, and it is always centered around......you guessed it.....FOOD. Aye aye aye. I will survive. I always enjoy Bunco because it is a fun and crazy dice game played with 12 people. Us ladies get wild and loud and laugh a lot and that is what matters. Well time for bed, but let me share my menu with you that I had today. Good night peeps!

Breakfast-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 apple, 1/2 c. blueberries, handful of spinach
1 hard boiled egg
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia
32 oz. water

Mid-morning snack-
20 unsalted cashews
16 oz. water

Lunch-
3 oz. baked turkey breast
Mixed green salad with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, green bell pepper, pinenuts and low-cal Italian dressing
16 oz. water

Mid-afternoon snack-
1 c. boiled shrimp
Munched on almonds here and there

Dinner-
3 oz. chicken breast (baked)
6 stalks of asparagus
1 c. green tea sweetened with Truvia

After dinner snack-
15 peanuts
10 baby carrots

Day 1

Hello all!

I know I just started this blog this morning, but I have to report at the end of each day and track what I did. I feel so good! Surprisingly, I wasn't that hungry at all today. My mind is clear and I feel serene and happy. Isn't is amazing how eating well can change everything? I battle anxiety, and I think coffee was a big problem and just made it worse. Caffeine for me is just a no no. Coffee has been a friend to me for many, many years. I love the smell and the taste and it has always been a super-de-duper treat for me when I wake up in the mornings. Well, guess what? This friend I call coffee is more like a "frenemy." It is delicious, warm and soothing going down, but it tears my system apart and makes me feel horrible for the rest of the day. I replaced it with green tea, and it has made a world of difference. Tastes so good, too! My body did not ache at all today, and I am sure it is due to NO caffeine. Ok, I think this is worth it! Feeling good takes presidency over what I want to put in my mouth. :) (By the way, the image you see above is me this past Saturday at my Zumba Basics 2 workshop in Murray, Utah. I will post pics weekly as I go along!)

Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast-

2 scrambles egg whites

2 slices turkey bacon

1 c. green tea with Truvia sweetener

32 oz. water

Mid morning snack-

1 apple

1 c. green tea with Truvia sweetener

32 oz. water

Lunch-

Mixed green salad with crab, shrimp, tomatoes, pinenuts, green bell pepper and low-cal Italian dressing

1/4 c. three bean salad

32 oz. water

Mid afternoon snack-

Protein smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 cut up apple, 1/2 c. blueberries and handful of spinach.

20 almonds

16 oz. water

Dinner-

1 c. cooked (boiled- eat and peel) shrimp

1 c. cooked asparagus

16 oz. water

After dinner snack-

1 c. fresh cut pineapple (amazing treat!)

I am taking this day by day, step by step. I know some days are going to be very challenging, but isn't that how life is? I say anything worthwhile isn't easy. Learning a new habit takes time and practice. Learning anything in life takes time and practice. I did not wake up one day and just magically sing and play the guitar. It took years of hard work, dedication and experience.

I not only started this blog for myself, but to help and inspire others. I hope you all find it as theraputic as I do! See y'all tomorrow!

Sweet dreams everyone!

Greetings!

My name is Becky Kimball and I have vowed to start a healthier life today. No more messing around. My body aches, my self esteem is low, and I am having health issues that I really want to get rid of. Yes, this about the billionth time I have started my "diet", but I am going to look at it from a different perspective. All of these new, wonderful foods I am putting into my body are going to make me healthy, happy and pretty! The saying "You are what you eat" is so true. I am excited to have energy and have a clear mind. I know it will take at least a week to get used to all this, but it will be so worth it.

The funny thing is, I have the whole exercise thing down. Last April, I discovered Zumba, which is a latin inspired dance fitness program, and it is hot, hot, hot! I became a Zumba junkie and went to class everyday. Within 5 months I had lost 35 pounds and was feeling great. I loved this program so much that I even went to a Zumba workshop and certified to be a Zumba instructor. I will admit that I was timid to do so because of my size. I had this stereotype in my mind that all fitness instructors have to be thin. But I pushed myself and wanted to be an inspiration to everyone and let them know that you don't have to be a certain age or size to do Zumba.

So, I certified and am now teaching two Zumba classes a week in my area. It has been an AMAZING experience and I love every minute of it. I feel like so much has already changed with me physically, but.....I am still overweight, and it is due to what goes in the ole piehole. I will confess. I am addicted to food. It is not because I am stressed. It is not because I am sad. It is not because I am emotional. I just LOVE to eat. What else can I say? I need to just be honest with myself and everyone else and admit there is a problem. So here it is....I have a problem! Good news. It is about to change!

For the first few months I am staying away from caffeine, dairy, gluten and sugar. This will be hard I know, but it will cleanse my body of toxins and give my body a jump start. I am also doing a liver cleanse, and taking new vitamins, such as fish oil, vitamin B and pro-biotics. I have done this all before and the first few days always feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck. So I have decided to not do Zumba or any other exercising for a week. It's going to be all about the eating.....clean eating I should say.

Yes, I know you are thinking "She needs to eat in moderation!" I have tried all methods, and this always works the best for me. I need to face the fact that my body does not do well with dairy or gluten. It causes inflammation in my organs and makes my body hurt all over. It also clouds my thinking to where I cannot think straight or remember. Eventually, I know I will be able to re-introduce these things to my system, but in small amounts. Sugar I just totally need to stay away from. I am afraid that is the case with caffeine, too. I LOVE coffee and it has been here to greet me every morning with its wonderful smell and taste. But it tears up my stomach and causes lots of anxiety. So, green tea has taken its place. That is what I had this morning and my head is already feeling clear.

I decided to make this blog so I can record what I do each and everyday. I really want to track my success and stick with it. The big thing that really gets to me is seeing pictures of myself. Ack! I just hate it. Recent pics of me compared to pics 20 years ago just really upset me. I am not even the same girl. I want to get back to being ME physically and emotionally. I am going to do it this time.

I hope you follow me on this journey and find some good inspiration on the way. I want to be a good example for everyone! Watch out world....here comes the old Becky!